We, representatives of five organizations working for the welfare of the survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, wish to present our observations with regard to the functioning of the Indira Gandhi Women & Child Hospital that is run by the Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation. We visited this hospital in the morning of February 16, 2015.

We hope you will take action on this report as many of these acts are in clear violations.

At a press conference today, five organisations working for the welfare of the survivors of the December ’84 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal announced the possibility of a comprehensive scientific assessment of the contamination around the Union Carbide factory by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The leaders of the organisations met with Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change during his recent visit to Bhopal for the discussion on the issue.

The organisations said that their supporters in the US had written to officials in UNEP for carrying out a scientific assessment on the depth and spread of different contaminants in and around the abandoned factory premises. In their response, UNEP officials mentioned that they would require a formal request from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India in order to consider the request.

The organisations stated that as per the 2012 report of the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, soil and ground water of 22 communities within 3.5 kms of the factory was contaminated by the recklessly dumped hazardous wastes of Union Carbide. Recent tests indicate that the contamination has spread beyond these 22 communities.

The organisations said that according to the “polluter pays” principle, Union Carbide, USA that designed the waste management system in Bhopal, is legally liable for environmental remediation of the contaminated area. They said that Dow Chemical that took over Union Carbide USA, in 2001 is currently liable for the clean up based on the principle of successor liability. They said that the Government of India has sought Rs 350 crores from Dow Chemical as advance for cleanup in the ongoing litigation in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. They said that the actual amount of liability and the most appropriate strategy for remediation can be ascertained through the comprehensive scientific assessment.

The organisations said that UNEP with its long experience of environmental assessment and its independent status is the ideal organization to carry out the scientific assessment in Bhopal. According to the organisations Mr. Javadekar has promised a response on this matter within 15 days.

At an event organized at Neelam Park today, five organizations of survivors of the December 84 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal congratulated the Aam Aadami Party for their thumping victory in Delhi elections. The organizations said that gas victims of Bhopal are particularly happy with the outcome of the Delhi elections because both BJP and Congress who have betrayed the interests of gas victims have faced humiliating defeat.

The organisations said that in the last 30 years, both of these parties have only protected the interests of American corporations and have sacrificed the legal rights of the Bhopal gas victims. They also said that after agreeing to their demand regarding additional compensation, the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers is yet to deliver anything concrete.

The organisations are also angered by the silence of the Chief Minister, who in 2011 had promised to get Rs 5 lakh for every gas victims. They said the state government had promised jobs to 10,000 gas victims but till now only 500 have got jobs and most of the Rs 18 crores spent on economic rehabilitation has gone into the pockets of corrupt ministers and officials of the state government.

The organisations said that Delhi election results have made it clear that people of this country give a befitting reply to hollow promises and false assurances of politicians. They said that their members are now preparing to confront the powers that be at the state and the centre on the promises made on the issue of additional compensation.

Subject: Letter from the Survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, India.

Sir,

On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the world’s worst industrial disaster, we five organizations of survivors’ of Bhopal, India, wish to present the following for your consideration and action.

Today in Bhopal the death toll due to the leak of toxic gases from a pesticide factory has risen close to 25 thousand dead and counting. 150 thousand people are battling chronic illnesses. Tuberculosis and cancers are rampant. Tens of thousands of children born after the disaster carry the mark of the poisons their parents inhaled on the midnight of 2-3 December 1984.

We stand in solidarity with political prisoner, Jeremy Hammond. As part of a postcard blitz to Jeremy, survivors of the Bhopal gas disaster and supporters are sending Jeremy postcards in prison. Please contact us at justice@bhopal.net if you are interested in participating in this important campaign.

Why should I mourn if my tablet and pen are forbidden,
when I have dipped my fingers in my own blood until they stain?
My lips have been silenced, but what of it?
For I have hidden a tongue in every round-mouthed link of my chain.

The Public Eye Awards are an event held every year since 2000 to counter the World Economic Forum in Davos. This year, Dow Chemical is one of the companies nominated for public “naming and shaming.” Voting begins November 19. Please click this link http://publiceye.ch/ and vote for DOW Chemical.

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